The ARQ Builders/ University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers averted a late collapse before escaping the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USP-F) Baby Panthers in overtime, 87-84, in the juniors division of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) Partners Cup 2019 on Sunday, July 7, 2019, at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Baby Lancers remain perfect with a 7-0 (win-loss) card and are assured of a slot in the top four with one game left in the elimination round. UV is on top of the team standings, followed by the University of San Jose-Recoletos Baby Jaguars with a 5-1 slate.
The Baby Lancers found their groove in the second period after a nip-and-tuck affair in the opening quarter, when both teams figured in a 14-all deadlock.
John Fritz Banzon drilled a three-pointer halfway in the second period followed by Albert John Sacayan’s tip-in to give UV a double digit lead, 33-21. USP-F fought back with an 11-4 run to trim down the deficit to five points at the break.
UV came out from the dugout blazing and was quick to pile up points for a commanding 51-32 lead. Banzon knocked down back-to-back triples and Sacayan scored a layup as UV posted a 19-point lead at 5:40 mark in the third period.
USP-F did not go out without a fight as it trimmed the deficit to six, 66-60, after Kyle Ochavo’s three-pointer with less than five minutes to play. USP-F then tied the game at 66-all.
Melicor grabbed a rebound off a miss from Banzon and scored a layup to give UV a 73-70 lead, with 21.3 ticks left. USP-F refused to go down as Isabelo hit a dagger trey with 6.3 left to play, sending the game to overtime.
In overtime, Banzon scored a three-pointer to put UV up 83-78 with 59 seconds left. USP-F got close to 86-84 with few seconds left before Sacayan scored a free throw for the final tally. The Baby Jaguars had a game-tying attempt but it did not hit the rim.
Sacayan finished with a game high of 28 points, Banzon added 22 and Melicor had 10 for UV.
Ochavo scored 20 and Isabelo handed 17 in a losing effort for USP-F, which dropped to a 2-4 slate.
In the other high school game, the Hotel Fortuna/University of Cebu (UC) Junior Webmasters slammed the UC-Lapu-Lapu Mandaue (UCLM), 73-48.
UC bucked a slow start to defeat its expansion team UCLM. UC was down 9-14 in the opening period before it took the driver seat, 29-27, at halftime.
UC dominated the second half, scoring 44 points while locking down the opponent to only 21.
The Junior Webmasters improved to a 5-2 (win-loss) card, while the rookie team UCLM remains winless after six games.
Dante Lapiz canned in 16 points for the Junior Webmasters, Maczi Micutuan pitched in 15, while Leotor Leonard and Kenon Pondoc chipped in 10 points each.
Daryll Guerrero was the lone player for UCLM in double figures with 11 points.